Apparatus for linear transport of block-shaped cigarette packets preparatory to testing the quality of their adhesive bonds

Abstract

Cigarette packets of a file wherein packets having satisfactory envelopes are randomly distributed among packets with defective envelopes, particularly envelopes having improperly glued and/or loose flaps, are advanced by a belt conveyor between two laterally adjustable guides. The guides bear upon the adjacent fold lines for pairs of mirror symmetrical flaps with a force which suffices to intensify the defects of envelopes with one or more non-adhering or improperly adhering flaps. This facilitates subsequent detection and segregation of packets having defective envelopes.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for detection of defective envelopes forming part of at least substantially block-shaped commodities, the defective envelopes having external flaps and elongated fold lines for the flaps, the apparatus comprising: 
       means for advancing, in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path, successive ones of a series of commodities including randomly distributed commodities having satisfactory envelopes and commodities having defective envelopes;  
       means for subjecting the envelopes of successive commodities of the series to the action of deforming forces during advancement of commodities along a first portion of said path with attendant intensification of defects of defective envelopes, said means for subjecting including at least one guide adjacent one side of said first portion of said path, said at least one guide having a surface bearing upon a fold line of the envelope in said first portion of said path, and wherein said fold lines are at least substantially parallel to said first portion during advancement of commodities along said first portion of said path; and  
       means for monitoring successive commodities in a second portion of said path downstream of said first portion, including detecting the commodities having defective envelopes.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said path is at least substantially straight. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the commodities are packets containing arrays of rod-shaped smokers' products. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  for detection of envelopes having external facets flanking the respective elongated fold lines, said surface of said at least one guide making an oblique angle with at least one facet flanking the fold line being advanced along said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said oblique angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said surface of said at least one guide is in mere linear contact with the envelopes of commodities being advanced along said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said advancing means comprises a conveyor including at least one endless flexible element having an upper reach arranged to advance the series of commodities along said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one guide has a downstream end upstream of said second portion of said path. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for subjecting is interrupted at said second portion of said path. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 2  for detection of envelopes having pairs of external flaps and elongated parallel fold lines for said pairs of flaps, said fold lines being at least substantially parallel to said first portion of said path and said means for subjecting including two guides adjacent opposite sides of said first portion of said path and each having a surface bearing upon one of the two fold lines of the envelope in said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting said subjecting means substantially transversely of said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said subjecting means comprises two members disposed at opposite sides of said first portion of said path and arranged to simultaneously engage an envelope in said first portion of said path, said members being movable toward and away from each other at least substantially transversely of said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide for commodities along a third portion of said path downstream of said second portion. 
     
     
       14. A method of enhancing the detection of defective envelopes forming part of block-shaped commodities, comprising the steps of: 
       advancing, in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path, successive ones of a series of commodities including randomly distributed commodities having satisfactory envelopes and commodities having defective envelopes;  
       subjecting the envelopes of successive commodities of the series to the action of deforming forces during advancement of commodities in a first portion of said path with attendant intensification of defects of defective envelopes; and  
       monitoring successive commodities in a second portion of said path downstream of said first portion to detect the commodities having defective envelopes,  
       wherein the envelopes include flaps and the flaps of satisfactory envelopes are bonded to adjacent portions of the respective envelopes, the flaps of defective envelopes being at least partially loose and said subjecting step including moving loose flaps relative to the adjacent portions of defective envelopes.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the commodities are packets containing arrays of rod-shaped smokers' products. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the envelopes include pairs of at least substantially mirror symmetrical flaps and said subjecting step includes simultaneously applying deforming forces to pairs of flaps in said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second portion is closely adjacent said first portion of said path.